Chapter 151

TIMOTHY POV

Timothy stood at the entrance of the hospital room, a mixture of emotions. churning within him. The sterile scent of antiseptic and

the soft hum of medical equipment filled the air, creating a somber atmosphere that weighed heavily on his shoulders. He took a

deep breath, trying to steady himself, before stepping inside.

His mother, lay in the hospital bed, her frail form propped up by pillows. Her once-vibrant eyes had lost some of their luster, and

the lines on her face seemed more pronounced than ever. Despite her weakened state, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her

lips as she saw Timothy.

“Hi, dear,” she said, her voice soft and tired. “How have you been?”

Timothy approached her bedside, his expression strained. “I’ve been alright, Mom. But how about you? How have you been

feeling since yesterday?”

Lydia’s smile grew warmer, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve had better days, but don’t you worry about me, sweetheart. I'll

be alright.”

He took a seat next to her bed, his gaze fixed on her. “You know I worry about you, Mom. You mean the world to me.”

She reached out and gently squeezed his hand, her touch feeble. “And you meant the world to me, Timothy.”

As they shared a moment of pleasant silence, Lydia’s expression shifted, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Speaking of which, I

couldn’t help but notice that engagement ring on your finger. Is it true? Are you really getting married to Stella?”

Timothy hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting to the diamond ring on his finger. It was a symbol of his commitment to Stella, a

commitment that had been marked by passion and ambition. But as he looked at his mother, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of

unease

“We are, Mom,” he finally answered, his voice tinged with reservation.

Lydia’s eyes, sharp and perceptive, bore into his. “Timothy, my dear, you don’t

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seem remotely excited about it. Is everything alright?”

Timothy sighed, running a hand through his hair, the weight of his thoughts evident in his expression. “It’s a complicated

situation”

His mother’s gaze softened, and she offered him a sympathetic smile. “Timothy, my love, you deserve happiness too. Marriage is

a big step, and you should only take it if it feels right in your heart.”

He nodded, grateful for her understanding. “I know, Mom. I just need to figure things out.”

Lydia watched him with a mix of curiosity and concern, her eyes still holding that faint glimmer of vitality despite her frailty.

“I know what you're thinking,” Timothy began, his voice hesitant, “But I’m marrying Stella for the sake of the baby. I want our child

to have a father in the home.”

Lydia’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing with a mix of sadness and frustration. “Tim, you can’t build a life together just for

the sake of a child. Marriage is a commitment that should be based on love and shared dreams.”

Timothy felt a pang of guilt at his mother’s words, a sense of unease settling in his chest. “I know, but

complicated right now. Stella’s carrying my child, and

I can’t abandon her.”

care

Lydia’s voice took on a bitter edge as she responded, her frustration palpable. “You always wanted to settle down, Timothy, and I

encouraged that, but I thought it would be with a girl you loved. Not just someone your father chose for you.”

Timothy winced at the truth in his mother’s words. He had allowed himself to be swept along by the tide of his father’s plans, and

now he was paying the price.

The conversation became increasingly difficult for Timothy to bear, the weight of his decisions and the sense of unfulfilled

dreams pressing down on him. He had. always wanted a different kind of life, a life filled with love and happiness, but he had

strayed from that path/

With a heavy heart, Timothy stood up from his chair, his gaze fixed on his mother. “I'll visit again soon, Mom,” he said, kissing her

cheek.

She nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and sadness. “Alright.”

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As Timothy left the hospital room, he couldn’t escape suffocating feeling taking hold of him. Marriage to Stella was a commitment

he had made for the sake of their child, but with the deadline approaching, he felt more uncertain with his choices. His noble act

felt more like an act of cowardice, and he was hurting. someone other than himself with his decision.

As he walked through the hospital corridors, the echoes of his mother’s words. haunted him. He had always wanted to settle

down, but not like this.

The crisp evening air offered some solace as he made his way to his car. As he settled into the driver’s seat, his phone chimed

with an incoming video call. He glanced at the screen to find Stella’s smiling face.

She held up her phone, showing off the wedding dress she had chosen. It was a vision of lace and silk, the embodiment of bridal

elegance. He hit answer.

“Timothy, darling, look at this dress!” Stella exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

Timothy forced a smile, feigning contentment as he examined the dress through the screen. “It’s nice, Stella.”

Stella beamed, twirling in front of the camera to give him a full view of the gown. “I knew you’d love it! We're going to have the

most perfect wedding.”

Timothy's smile faltered, his thoughts still mired on Evie.

Stella’s expression shifted, her tone taking on a more serious note. “Timothy, there’s something we need to discuss. Evie’s been

causing problems.”

He braced himself for what was to come, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. “What happened?”

Stella’s lips twisted into a thin line. “Her and Scarlett came to my dress fitting, and Evie had the audacity to tell me that I might be

too pregnant to fit into my dress.

Timothy fought to stifle a laugh, but he couldn’t help the amusement that danced in his eyes. Stella’s suspicions were

immediately aroused. “Are you laughing, Timothy?”

He cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure. “No, no, of course not, Stella. It’s just...Evie can be a bit...blunt at

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Stella scoffed. “Blunt is an understatement. She’s trying to ruin my wedding, Timothy.”

Timothy suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, instead focusing his gaze on a street sign in the distance. If Evie could single-

handedly “ruin” the wedding, that would be an interesting day.

“Timothy!” Stella’s shrill voice broke through his thoughts. “Are you even listening?”

He looked back at his phone screen to see Stella’s reddened face taking up the frame. He signed. “I might have to call you back

later,” he told her.

“Later?” She squinted at him. “What are you doing right now?”

“I'm just distracted,” he pressed, running a hand through his hair. “We can talk about this later, okay? And I highly doubt that Evie

has a personal vendetta against you, so stop antagonizing her.”

Stella’s expression hardened, and she leaned closer to the camera. “Fine. But this discussion isn’t over.”

Timothy let out an exasperated sigh as he watched Stella end the call, her image disappearing from the screen. Only after

staring into the distance for a short while did the question finally occur to him.

Why would Evie be at Stella’s dress fitting? He was already aware that Evie couldn't be invited to the wedding, which was the

first of Stella’s wedding wishes. He also doubted that Evie had lawyer business there, as Stella hadn’t mentioned that at all.

It seemed like more was going on that he was aware of.

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